History Channel's bio on Osama bin laden said that Mohammed bin laden, Osama's dad, was killed in a 'helicopter crash in Saudi Arabia'.
According to PBS's Frontline weblink on the family history, both Mohammed the father and Osama's brother Salem were killed in plane crashes in TEXAS. Mohammed in 1968 and Salem in 1988
""Like his father in 1968, Salem died in a 1988 air crash...in Texas. He was flying a BAC 1-11 which had been bought in July 1977 by Prince Mohammed Ben Fahd. The plane's flight plans had long been at the center of a number of investigations. According to one of the plane's American pilots, it had been used in October 1980 during secret Paris meetings between US and Iranian emissaries. Nothing was ever proven, but Salem bin Laden's accidental death revived some speculation that he might have been "eliminated" as an embarrassing witness. In fact, an inquiry was held to determine the exact circumstances of the accident. The conclusions were never divulged.""
from
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/who/family.htmlAlso see under 1968
""May 29, 1968
09:49 Mohammed bin Laden
22, father of Osama bin Laden San Antonio, Texas Beech 95-C55
N2090W Crashed while taking off. Fuel starvation. Fuel selector in wrong position. 2 killed. ""
from
http://www.planecrashinfo.com/famous1960s.htmand also see
'THE HOUSE OF BIN LADEN'
by JANE MAYER
A family's, and a nation's, divided loyalties.
Issue of 2001-11-12
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?011112fa_FACT3